Public Transit commitments from federal parties will strengthen economy and climate action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat –Public transit and environmental groups across Canada have released the results of a policy survey on transit commitments from federal parties. Candidates from the Liberal, New Democrat, and Green Parties provided responses or shared commitments in their party platform. No representative from the Conservative Party provided transit commitments by response or through their platform by the deadline of April 18, 2025.

Environmental Defence, TTCriders, Transport Action Canada, Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders, CUSP-Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet, Regina Citizens Public Transit Coalition, Activate Transit Windsor Essex, Edmonton Transit Riders and Tri-Cities Transport Action circulated a survey to all federal parties to learn about their commitments to invest in public transit for a strong economy.  

“There is one government investment that makes life cheaper, less polluting and more enjoyable for most people. That investment is new bus and train lines accompanied by the money for staff to operate them”

- Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence:

“Operating funding, lifecycle replacement funding, and new capital investments must go hand in hand to ensure that municipalities and transit agencies can deliver the most reliable, comprehensive, and accessible service possible with the dollars invested.” 

- Terence Johnson, President, Transport Action Canada

“Every dollar spent on transit saves Canadians money, and creates good jobs in Canada. In the face of economic uncertainty coming from south of the border, there’s no downside to building an excellent public transit network that we can be proud of.”

- Denis Agar, Executive Director, Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders

“Federal investment in new subway trains for Toronto’s Line 2 will generate good manufacturing jobs in Canada and strengthen our economy at the same time as it will make transit more reliable for hundreds of thousands of Toronto residents.”  

- Andrew Pulsifer, Executive Director, TTCriders 

“Better public transit makes life more affordable, our communities safer and healthier, and reduces carbon pollution. Canada can’t afford to skimp on transit funding.” 

- Eric Doherty, spokesperson, Climate Justice Victoria

“Public transit investments are good economic policy, while also ensuring everyone can fully participate in society regardless of their needs and abilities.” 

- Cheryl Villetard, Vice-Chair, Edmonton Transit Riders

“Meaningful transit investment at the federal level means real opportunity for universal, common standards of accessibility for all. Disabled riders need to be free to get where we need to be all across the country.”

- Brad Evoy, Executive Director, Disability Justice Network of Ontario

"A transit system is a necessary lifeline in modern society. People and the environment both benefit when this method is chosen." 

- Terri Sleeva, Community activist

“There will be no success on climate without robust public transit. Period. This is climate change mitigation 101. 

- Paul Berger, Lead Organizer, CUSP - Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet

"Operational funding is crucial to enable local transit agencies like Grand River Transit to build a frequent service network and make other service improvements that would allow more people to choose transit over driving."

- Michael Druker, Tri-Cities Transport Action Group Co-Lead

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

ABOUT TTCRIDERS (ttcriders.ca): TTCriders is a membership-based transit advocacy organization that works for better, more affordable, and more accessible public transit in Toronto.

Background  

There is growing consensus that the federal government should invest in transit operating costs 

• In October 2024, mayors and transit board chairs representing urban regions across Canada met in Ottawa to call on the federal government to work with local and provincial governments to address the funding crisis facing the country’s largest transit agencies, and develop a new, sustainable funding model for public transportation
• The federal government provides money for cities to buy new buses and trains, but does not invest in running service. 
• Federal support for transit operating budgets would be a quick and effective way to increase ridership by enabling transit systems to get their idle vehicles running again.
• The Affordability Action Council has recommended that the proposed Permanent Public Transit Fund be accelerated, and designed so that municipalities can use the fund to support operating budget needs.
• Nearly 100 organizations across Canada signed a letter in advance of the 2024 federal budget, encouraging investment in transit operations funding. This funding would support inter-community bus services connecting rural communities that have been chronically underserved by public transit.

According to a report from Environmental Defence and Equiterre, if the Canada Public Transit Fund includes policies such as public transit operating funding, federal strings to encourage housing density near public transit, and incentives for cities to speed up public transit service with dedicated bus lanes, Canada can: 

• Double public transit ridership by 2035;
• Achieve more than 30% of all travel in major cities (like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal) being made by public transit and 20% overall across Canada;
• Reduce Vehicle Kilometres Travelled by 35% below 2019 levels by 2035;
• Reduce transport-related carbon emissions by 65 million tonnes by 2035.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Karishma Porwal, Environmental Defence, [email protected]

Andrew Pulsifer, TTCRiders, [email protected]

Link to full survey and candidate responses for Toronto federal ridings: Here's how your federal MPs are promising to improve transit in Toronto